Joshua 21:41

41 All the cities of the L'vi'im, forty-eight cities with their surrounding open land, are to be in among the lands possessed by the people of Isra'el -

Joshua 21:41 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 21:41

All the cities of the Levites, within the possession of the
children of Israel
As comprised in one sum total:

[were] forty and eight cities with their suburbs;
which is just the number that Moses from the mouth of God ordered to be given unto them, before they entered into the land, and before they were in possession of one city in it, ( Numbers 35:7 ) ; which, as it is a proof of the omniscience, prescience, and predetermination of God; so of the sure and true prediction of Moses, who could not be otherwise certain than from the Lord of the Israelites being able to give so many cities to them, out of each of their tribes: and it is to be observed, that this tribe of Levi, though it had no share in the division of the land, yet had more cities by lot given to it than any other, excepting the tribe of Judah; though indeed, in the account of some of the tribes, all the cities in them are not mentioned; and besides, they had only the cities they had with their suburbs round about them, but not the lands belonging to them, nor the villages; however this shows that a large and liberal maintenance of the ministers of the Lord, that serve in his sanctuary should be allowed and made for them, as in the legal, so under the Gospel dispensation

Joshua 21:41 In-Context

39 Heshbon with its surrounding open land and Ya'zer with its surrounding open land - four cities in all.

40 All these were the cities of the descendants of M'rari according to their families, the rest of the families of the L'vi'im; their lot totaled twelve cities.

41 All the cities of the L'vi'im, forty-eight cities with their surrounding open land, are to be in among the lands possessed by the people of Isra'el -

42 these cities, each with its surrounding open land; thus is it to be with all these cities.

43 So ADONAI gave Isra'el all the land which he swore to give to their ancestors, and they took possession of it and lived in it.